• Closed • The Rotten Apple (Siorey)

[Vorpal]

I

n the calm, unexplored depths of the Hollow Sea, a large silhouette drifted thoughtfully along on the mild current. The Daughter of Despair, Chrien, rarely ventured out of her lair. However, tonight she was drawn to the waters surrounding that curious island, Scalvoris. Of course, this island would reflect the intriguing nature of her elusive creator. Fei's fracture ran deep within the island, and the bitter Immortal could sense its trace effects in the water. It was a familiar and comforting energy, but not enough. It wasn't her mother.

She had tried, and was trying everything. There must exist a way to bring back the Original that should not have been lost. However, even with her cunning mind, all her experiments seemed to come up short. The Mer had been a failure and a costly one at that. Chrien ran scaled fingers over the shimmering cracks that ran along her flesh.

All of a sudden, searing anger and frustration welled up inside of the Immortal, causing her to thrash wildly and claw at invisible enemies. Above, the cold seas churned and the wind picked up enough to scour flakes of ice across the shoreline. The sudden storm was enough to send the few fishing boats still out on the water scurrying back toward the safety of land. It was an offense she didn't miss.

Rising up just enough so that her crowned head breached the rough waves, Chrien glared at the glittering lights of a small village with her beady eyes. Humans. Those gormless, disgusting parasites that leeched off of her creator's grave. Why should they live so close to her? What did they know of her mother? Nothing, that was what. They lived their simple, insignificant lives in ignorance. It was enough to make her gut churn.

Yet that wasn't all that there was on that island. She too had her pawns. While she herself wasn't able to leave the water, with cursed U'frek out of the way, now was an opportune moment to make use of those so eager to carry out her will. Sliding quickly through the water under the cover of the freak storm, Chrien approached the shore.

"Come, my child," the monstrous Immortal called out, in a strangely motherly tone. "I have more work for you..."


Arc 718, 92nd of Zi'da
Along the old wharf of Havardr, locals and fishermen gathered early in the morning. Many of them whispered worriedly in each other's ear while some of them tore away from the observing crowd, running off to spread the news. Linca, the village chief, stood at the forefront, exchanging hushed words with his fellow leaders.

"How can this be happening?" an elderly looking woman with graying hair hissed urgently. Her eyes were glued to the cold, bloodied body of what must be a local fisherman. The corpse's expression was frozen in disbelieving surprise and fear. His chest was marred with numerous stabs and gashes.

"This is getting out of hand. Three attacks in as many days. Get the body to the surgeons hut, and someone send word to Scalvoris Town," Linca said firmly, taking charge.

"They might not be able to send help, you know." The elder woman muttered a little sadly.

Linca placed a hand on her shoulder and started guiding her back toward the cluster of yurts in the distance. "We'll do the best we can. We've got to put a stop to this. Until then, no one sleeps soundly."

The chief veered away on his path, set on gathering key members of the community. Things needed to be discussed, and plans made to sort out what was turning out to be a terrible distraction they couldn't afford as the cold of Cylus bore down upon them.

Off Topic

Information
I will post again on the 28th of October.
Your character may question potential villagers milling about.
Please don't control the NPCs.

Objectives
Think of these as helpful guidelines...
- Explain how your character comes to be in the village. (For example, called there as official help, heard a rumor, happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time.)
- Decide whether you will look into this matter in an official capacity. In which case you must meet with Linca at the Chief's office.
- You may have your PC visit 2 locations this turn. (Or just one. Or none?)

1. The wharf
2. The surgeon's tent
3. The Salty Barrel, a local inn
4. The Whaler's, a local eatery
5. The Chief's office

- Enroute, you may choose to pick up a small item that catches your character's eye.

[Siorey]

♆ Arc 718, 92nd of Zi'da ♆
♆ Mood: Very Concerned
♆ Current Thought: This is horrible
♆ Current Theme: Master of Tides

♆ I raced as fast as I could to the village, as this was an important assignment. I was approached earlier that trial by a superior, who had gotten word of attacks on a port village. I was certainly glad that it wasn't as far from Scalvoris Town as I thought it was. Upon reaching the town you could feel the heavy, overbearing weight these attacks had on the place. Walking the streets, seeing the worry and dismay, and my need to help them was getting stronger. The first place I decided to go to was where the bodies of those attacked were being held.

Asking around, he was guided to the surgeon's tent. Stepping into the room he almost gagged at the overwhelming smell of death. Looking over each one of the bodies, I decided to take a crack at what I thought was going on. The marking on each body seemed normal enough but jagged and messy, like an animal attack. Putting on one of the gloves he ran his hand along the wounds, trying to get a feel for the whatever was capable of making these wounds. Was it some kind of new creature? Did whatever was doing this not like the sailing, did someone disturb an ancient evil as that one guy did back in Saun? He would need an answer, fast. Walking out of the tent he decided it was time to check in with the village chief, and went to find the man. Asking around some more he was pointed to the man in charge.

"Fire Element in training Siorey, I came about the attacks."

he said, introducing himself. ♆

"Speech"

[Vorpal]

S

iorey was one of the first Elements rushing to the small fishing village as word was sent that they were experiencing a mysterious influx of deaths. One of the first because it was hard to rally soldiers to the cause. It was a remote fishing village camped out in the middle of nowhere. Most were inclined to dismiss the reports as wild exaggerations of a drunk sailor. What was more, it was late Zi'da with a poor prospect of weather during travel.

However, now that the young trainee was here, he wasted no time in examining the latest victim. There were only two bodies kept in the surgeon's tent. One was an extremely bloody corpse, freshly brought in. The other was a shrouded woman who was quite pale but not as mangled as the man. A young medic hovered at Siorey's elbow, looking quite green as the trainee felt along the wounds of the male corpse.

"Uh, mister... If you'd like, th's for the woman here," he muttered, passing over some writing.

Eilise Fischer (29)
Female
Resident of Havadr
Cause of Death: Suspicious (Found in the bay, drowned. Blunt trauma to the back of the head.)
Manner of Death: Unknown
Notes: Found in the water by Linca on the 91st of Zi'da. Suicide unlikely according to kin.

Upon walking away from the surgeon's tent, Siorey walked past a man sitting dejectedly on a barrel outside a small fishing shed. As the trainee zipped past he caught the tail end of a conversation the man was having with a seemingly sympathizing friend.

"But I don't understand," he said, shaking his head. "We were going to be married and now she says she never..."

A cold wind swept away the rest of the stranger's words as Siorey found his way toward Linca's office.

Continued here